Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-08-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the Standard.

tA"'"A Vi @AO iSolucut, Is uuQeTStOOC
to be arranging tariff scheme, which
Will be presented to Congress and
urged for passage as an Administra-
ton measure early in the next session
of that body.
Already, the Republicans, feeling a
wholesome dread Of Democratic har.
mony on the great vital issue of tariff
reform, are beginning to circulate
wild and unfouniered 1umors that
such and such a Pennsylvania Dem.
ocrat declares he will not enter free
trade caucus for the purpose of or
ganizing the next House, and that
such and such Western Democrat
never at any time giving names, mind
you-will not longer affiliate with
Democrats who favor the protective
system. l believe that these insidious
designs of the enemy will come to
nanght, and that the Democrats of
the next House, will not disappoint
the country's reasonable demand and
expectation of fair and just adjust
ment of tariff rates.
The substantial progress and pros
perity of the United States is shown
by the following report of the Bureau
of Statistics for the fiscal year, which
ended June 80, 1887. Gold exported,
$9,7O1, ,1S7; imported, 81, 1903 SOL; ex-
cess of imports, $32, 2O7,714; silver ex-
ported, $26,2O6, ,5O4; imported. ST.
26O,l71; excess of exports, $3.50, 1888 /;
exports of merchandise, $716,7O4 1884 /;
imports, $692 ,259,95l; excess of ex-
ports, 1924, ,445,S 1888; total number of i'm
migrants, 4S3, JIG. In this connection
l may also write of the report of the
Geological Survey, which shows re-
markable increase of the mineral re-
sources of the United States, both in
value and quantity; in round num-
bers the increased value is $37 ,OOO,-
600 and the gain in the pig-iron indus
try is also verygreat, in fact about FIVE
sixths of the whole amount.
As an echo of the Harvey effair,
may mention that this graceless SWIM
dler, in his professional capacity of
lawyer, had cleverly laid his plans to
rob poor widow of over $1,000 in
pension money, and the scheme was
only frustrated by the discovery of his
forgeries and his confinement in Jail.
The Treasury officials say that Harvey
did great deal of fine forgery, which
was only discovered by the merest ac-
cident.
Secretary Whitney is doing all in
his power to rebuild the navy, which
was ruined by Republican mismanage-
ment. The Secretary has just pub
lished an advertisement inviting pro-
posals for the construction of first
class torpedo boat, of modern design,
having tensile strength of 10000
pounds per square inch, at a cost not
to exceed $4,000.
Cne of the most important rulings
by the Interstate Commission is the
decision that the ubiquitous CONNER
cial traveller cannot be given special
rates on tickets, but must pay regular
fare just like other people. Such ac-
ton may, to some extent, affect the
commercial as we'll as the railway in
terests, for it will be quite an item in
the expense accounts of merchants.
A delegation of Idaho Indians, head
ed by Chief Seltise, visited the Presi-
dent, this week, to request the privi-
lege of granting the right of way
through their lands in that Territory
to a contemplated railroad, which per
mission can only be given by Con-
gress. The Chief, who is " friend of
the white man." was, according to GUS
tom, presented q peace medal by Sec
reiary Lamar, and the aged Indian
was very proud of his trophy.
The report of the Commissioner Of
Internal Revenue, for the last fiscal
year, presents some interesting figures,
the total collections being $118 1885,
757, an increase of 81 1892 1888 over the
preceding fiscal year. These were in
creased receipts ON the following arti-
cles: Banks and bankers, tobacco,
snuff, cigars, cigarettes, fermented
liquors and oleomargarine. A de-
| crease is shown in all varieties of dis.
titled spirits.
The eighteenth volume of the Re-
bellion Records has been published
and is now ready to be distributed.
There are few persons who realize the
magnitude of this work. 1t was be-
gun by the War Department some
nine years ago and it is likely to con-
tinue for many years yet. 1t is esti-
mated that the complete work will
make 127 volumes and that the last
of the series will not be printed until
the succeeding century. 1t is doubt
full if there will be single living sol
der of the civil war when this volu
| minous work is finished.
If MIR. Carroll d. Wright, the lucky
Massachusetts, Republican, who holds
two good Offices under the Democratic
Administration-th of United States
Labor Commissioner and Labor Com
missioner for the former State-is no
soon choked off from one or the other